Context
The Council is transforming their housing services model in response to the Consumer Standards from the Regulator for Social Housing. These standards require landlords to deliver safe, well-maintained homes and to listen to tenants’ voices.
The Building Safety and Compliance Oversight Group (BSCG) is part of this transformation, providing assurance to our residents that building safety services are compliant, reflecting their views and priorities.
Purpose
- To provide a structured oversight forum for monitoring and scrutinizing performance across building safety and compliance standards, measures, and activities, ensuring recommendations raised support shaping the services provided by building safety and compliance activities
- To equip residents with the skills and knowledge to participate in, influence, and challenge building health and safety policies and practices, ensuring legal compliance and resident safety
- To empower residents to effectively engage in consultation processes related to building safety
Objectives
- Ensure a system is in place so residents' safety concerns are listened to and responded to promptly
- Develop standards for communicating critical building safety information to tenants, households, and visitors, including those with diverse needs
- Agree a process to enable residents to access more detailed building safety information, if desired
- Agree on clear and accessible health and safety performance information and sharing arrangements for residents to monitor
- Explore ways to help residents understand their own role in maintaining personal and communal safety
- Identify and signpost residents to key partners who support resident safety
- Ensure collective resident health and safety concerns are considered and used for future learning
- Contribute to achieving the outcomes of new building safety legislation and monitor related processes
Role of oversight group members
- Undertake training in building safety and compliance
- Actively participate in meetings and contribute to discussions
- Raise concerns or questions on behalf of wider residents or specific communities
- Share relevant information with other residents to promote awareness and understanding of health and safety matters
- Positively influence future policy and strategy regarding building safety
- Monitor property compliance in key areas such as fire safety, asbestos, electrical safety, gas, lifts, water hygiene, etc.
- Monitor compliance with regulations relating to the new Building and Fire Safety legislation
Structure and Membership
Resident Representatives - 8 to 10 (if possible):
- 2 from Tower Blocks/ Low Rise Flats (with age and geographical spread)
- 2 from Homes for Older People (with communal facilities and geographical spread)
- 2 from a House/bungalow
- 1 Leaseholder/shared owner
Staff Representatives
- Resident Involvement Officer - administration and facilitation support
- Corporate Fire Safety Manager/Building Safety Manager - Lead Officer
- Experts when required
Collaborative working arrangements
Co-lead arrangements - Resident Involvement Manager to work alongside the Corporate Fire Safety Compliance Manager with the RI Team providing the facilitation and administrative role.
Focus Groups may be created to work on specific themes. Members may be co-opted from other partner organisations (e.g., Health and Safety experts) or the wider tenant base involved. Some members of the main group may also participate, depending on the subject. Tenant representatives will report back to the main oversight group.
Management and Coordination of Meetings
The Corporate Fire Safety Compliance Manager or Building Safety Manager and Resident Involvement Manager will act as lead officers guiding the group’s direction and coordinating meetings. The Resident Involvement Team will provide administrative support, including:
- Arranging meetings
- Preparing agendas
- Taking and distributing minutes
Reporting Arrangements
The Terms of Reference, minutes and action logs from meetings will be shared with all group members.
Review
The Terms of Reference and membership will be reviewed initially after 6 months, and thereafter every two years, or earlier if significant changes occur, by the Residents’ Building Safety Group. The initial review will also agree /establish a resident chair and vice-chair after suitable training completion is evidenced.
